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Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with ablack trapezoid based on the hoist side

- EconomyOverview: The oil sector dominates the economy. Of the countries in theMiddle East, Kuwait has oil reserves second only to those of Saudi Arabia.Earnings from hydrocarbons generate over 90% of both export and governmentrevenues and contribute about 40% to GDP. Most of the nonoil sector is dependentupon oil-derived government revenues to provide infrastructure development andto promote limited industrial diversification. The economy is heavily dependentupon foreign labor--Kuwaitis account for less than 20% of the labor force. Theearly years of the Iran-Iraq war pushed Kuwait's GDP well below its 1980 peak;however, during the period 1986-88, GDP increased each year, rising to 5% in1988.

Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and redwith a large white disk centered in the blue band

- EconomyOverview: One of the world's poorest nations, Laos has had a Communistcentrally planned economy with government ownership and control ofproductive enterprises of any size. Recently, however, the governmenthas been decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise.Laos is a landlocked country with a primitive infrastructure, that is,it has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, limitedexternal and internal telecommunications, and electricityavailable in only a limited area. Subsistence agriculture is themain occupation, accounting for over 60% of GDP and providing about 85-90% oftotal employment. The predominant crop is rice. For the foreseeable future theeconomy will continue to depend for its survival on foreign aid--fromCEMA, IMF, and other international sources.

Agriculture: accounts for 60% of GDP and employs most of the work force;subsistence farming predominates; normally self-sufficient; principalcrops--rice (80% of cultivated land), potatoes, vegetables, coffee,sugarcane, cotton

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and opium poppy for theinternational drug trade; production of cannabis increased in 1989;marijuana and heroin are shipped to Western countries, including the US

Telecommunications: service to general public considered poor; radionetwork provides generally erratic service to government users; 7,390 telephones(1986); stations--10 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 satellite earth station

- Defense ForcesBranches: Lao People's Army (LPA, which consists of an army with naval,aviation, and militia elements), Air Force, National Police Department

Military manpower: males 15-49, 967,047; 517,666 fit for military service;44,176 reach military age (18) annually; conscription age NA

- GovernmentNote: Between early 1975 and late 1976 Lebanon was torn by civilwar between its Christians--then aided by Syrian troops--and its Muslimsand their Palestinian allies. The cease-fire established in October1976 between the domestic political groups generally held for about sixyears, despite occasional fighting. Syrian troops constituted as the ArabDeterrent Force by the Arab League have remained in Lebanon. Syria'smove toward supporting the Lebanese Muslims and the Palestinians andIsrael's growing support for Lebanese Christians brought the two sidesinto rough equilibrium, but no progress was made toward nationalreconciliation or political reforms--the original cause of the war.

Continuing Israeli concern about the Palestinian presence inLebanon led to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in June 1982. Israeliforces occupied all of the southern portion of the country and mounted asummer-long siege of Beirut, which resulted in the evacuation of thePLO from Beirut in September under the supervision of a multinationalforce (MNF) made up of US, French, and Italian troops.

Within days of the departure of the MNF, Lebanon's newly electedpresident, Bashir Gemayel, was assassinated. In the wake of his death,Christian militiamen massacred hundreds of Palestinian refugees in twoBeirut camps. This prompted the return of the MNF to ease the securityburden on Lebanon's weak Army and security forces. In late March 1984the last MNF units withdrew.

Lebanese Parliamentarians met in Taif, Saudi Arabia in late 1989 andconcluded a national reconciliation pact that codified a new power-sharingformula, specifiying a Christian president but giving Muslims moreauthority. Rene Muawad was subsequently elected president on 4 November1989, ending a 13-month period during which Lebanon had no president andrival Muslim and Christian governments. Muawad was assassinated17 days later, on 22 November; on 24 November Elias Harawi waselected to succeed Muawad.

Progress toward lasting political compromise in Lebanon has beenstalled by opposition from Christian strongman Gen. Michel Awn.Awn--appointed acting Prime Minister by outgoing president Amin Gemayelin September 1988--called the national reconciliation accordillegitimate and has refused to recognize the new Lebanese Government.

Lebanon continues to be partially occupied by Syrian troops. Syriaaugmented its troop presence during the weeks following Muawad'sassassination. Troops are deployed in West Beirut and its southernsuburbs, in Al Biqa, and in northern Lebanon. Iran also maintainsa small contingent of revolutionary guards in Al Biqa, fromwhich it supports Lebanese Islamic fundamentalist groups.

Israel withdrew the bulk of its forces from the south in 1985,although it still retains troops in a 10-km-deep security zone northof its border with Lebanon. Israel arms and trains the Army of SouthLebanon (ASL), which also occupies the security zone and is Israel'sfirst line of defense against attacks on its northern border.

The following description is based on the present constitutional andcustomary practices of the Lebanese system.

Political parties and leaders: political party activity is organized alonglargely sectarian lines; numerous political groupings exist, consisting ofindividual political figures and followers motivated by religious, clan, andeconomic considerations; most parties have well-armed militias, which are stillinvolved in occasional clashes

Suffrage: compulsory for all males at age 21; authorized for womenat age 21 with elementary education

Elections:National Assembly--elections should be held every four yearsbut security conditions have prevented elections since May 1972

Communists: the Lebanese Communist Party was legalized in 1970; membersand sympathizers estimated at 2,000-3,000

Flag: three horizontal bands of red (top), white (double width), and redwith a green and brown cedar tree centered in the white band

- EconomyOverview: Severe factional infighting in 1989 has been destroying physicalproperty, interrupting the established pattern of economic affairs, andpractically ending chances of restoring Lebanon's position as a MiddleEastern entrepot and banking hub. The ordinary Lebanese citizenstruggles to keep afloat in an environment of physical danger, highunemployment, and growing shortages. The central government's abilityto collect taxes has suffered greatly from militia control and taxationof local areas. As the civil strife persists, the US dollar has becomemore and more the medium of exchange. Transportation,communications, and other parts of the infrastructure continue to deteriorate.Family remittances, foreign political money going to the factions, internationalemergency aid, and a small volume of manufactured exports help prop up thebattered economy. Prospects for 1990 are grim, with expected further declines ineconomic activity and living standards.

Airports: 9 total, 8 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways;none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m; none under the direct control of theLebanese Government

Legal system: based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law;judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; hasnot accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 4 October (1966)

Executive branch: monarch, chairman of the Military Council, MilitaryCouncil, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch: a bicameral Parliament consisting of an upper houseor Senate and a lower house or National Assembly was dissolved in January 1970;following the military coup of 20 January 1986, legislative powers were vestedin the monarch

Judicial branch: High Court, Court of Appeal

Leaders:Chief of State--King MOSHOESHOE II (Paramount Chief from 1960 untilindependence on 4 October 1966, when he became King); Heir Apparent LetsieDavid SEEISO (son of the King);

Head of Government--Chairman of the Military Council Maj. Gen. JustinMetsing LEKHANYA (since 24 January 1986)

Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper halfis white bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with crossed spear andclub; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner

- EconomyOverview: Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho has no importantnatural resources other than water. Its economy is based on agriculture,light manufacturing, and remittances from laborers employed in South Africa.Subsistence farming is the principal occupation for about 86% of the domesticlabor force and accounts for about 20% of GDP. Manufacturing depends largely onfarm products to support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries;other industries include textile, clothing, and light engineering. Industry'sshare of total GDP rose from 6% in 1982 to 10.5% in 1987. During the period1985-87 real GDP growth averaged 2.9% per year, only slightly above thepopulation growth rate. In FY89 per capita GDP was only $245 andnearly 25% of the labor force was unemployed.

Language: English (official); more than 20 local languages of theNiger-Congo language group; English used by about 20%

Literacy: 35%

Labor force: 510,000, including 220,000 in the monetary economy;70.5% agriculture, 10.8% services, 4.5% industry and commerce, 14.2% other;non-African foreigners hold about 95% of the top-level management andengineering jobs; 52% of population of working age

Flag: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating withwhite; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upperhoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag

- EconomyOverview: In 1988 and 1989 the Liberian economy posted its best two yearsin a decade, thanks to a resurgence of the rubber industry and rapid growthin exports of forest products. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources,forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia is a producer andexporter of basic products. Local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, issmall in scope. Liberia imports primarily machinery and parts, transportationequipment, petroleum products, and foodstuffs. Persistent budget deficits,the flight of capital, and deterioration of transport and other infrastructurecontinue to hold back economic progress.

Legal system: based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separatereligious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislativeacts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Head of Government--Chairman of the General People's Committee (Premier)Umar Mustafa al-MUNTASIR (since 1 March 1987)

Political parties and leaders: none

Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

Elections: national elections are indirect through a hierarchy ofrevolutionary committees

Flag: plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the statereligion)

- EconomyOverview: The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenuesfrom the oil sector, which contributes virtually all export earnings and over50% to GNP. Since 1980, however, the sharp drop in oil prices and resultingdecline in export revenues has adversely affected economic development. In 1986per capita GNP was the highest in Africa at $5,410, but it had been $2,000higher in 1982. Severe cutbacks in imports over the past five years haveled to shortages of basic goods and foodstuffs, although the reopeningof the Libyan-Tunisian border in April 1988 and the Libyan-Egyptianborder in December 1989 have somewhat eased shortages. Austeritybudgets and a lack of trained technicians have undermined the government'sability to implement a number of planned infrastructure developmentprojects. The nonoil industrial and construction sectors, whichaccount for about 15% of GNP, have expanded from processingmostly agricultural products to include petrochemicals, iron, steel,and aluminum. Although agriculture accounts for less than 5% of GNP, it employs20% of the labor force. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit farmoutput, requiring Libya to import about 75% of its food requirements.

Diplomatic representation: in routine diplomatic matters, Liechtensteinis represented in the US by the Swiss Embassy;US--the US has no diplomatic or consular mission in Liechtenstein, but theUS Consul General at Zurich (Switzerland) has consular accreditation at Vaduz

Flag: two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crownon the hoist side of the blue band

- EconomyOverview: The prosperous economy is based primarily on small-scale lightindustry and some farming. Industry accounts for 54% of total employment,the service sector 42% (mostly based on tourism), and agriculture andforestry 4%. The sale of postage stamps to collectors is estimated at $10million annually and accounts for 10% of revenues. Low business taxes (themaximum tax rate is 20%) and easy incorporation rules have induced about 25,000holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices inLiechtenstein. Such companies, incorporated solely for tax purposes, provide anadditional 30% of state revenues. The economy is tied closely to that ofSwitzerland in a customs union, and incomes and living standards parallel thoseof the more prosperous Swiss groups.

Flag: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue;similar to the flag of the Netherlands which uses a darker blue and is shorter;design was based on the flag of France

- EconomyOverview: The stable economy features moderate growth, lowinflation, and negligible unemployment. Agriculture is based on small buthighly productive family-owned farms. The industrial sector, untilrecently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified,particularly toward high-technology firms. During the past decade growthin the financial sector has more than compensated for the decline insteel. Services, especially banking, account for a growing proportionof the economy. Luxembourg participates in an economic union withBelgium on trade and most financial matters and is also closely connectedeconomically with the Netherlands.

Independence: none (territory of Portugal); Portugal signed an agreementwith China on 13 April 1987 to return Macau to China on 20 December 1999; in thejoint declaration, China promises to respect Macau's existing social andeconomic systems and lifestyle for 50 years after transition

Political parties and leaders: Association to Defend the Interests ofMacau; Macau Democratic Center; Group to Study the Development of Macau; MacauIndependent Group

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Elections:Legislative Assembly--last held on 9 November 1988 (next to beheld November 1991);results--percent of vote by party NA;seats--(17 total; 6 elected by universal suffrage, 6 by indirectsuffrage) number of seats by party NA

Other political or pressure groups: wealthy Macanese and Chineserepresenting local interests, wealthy pro-Communist merchants representingChina's interests; in January 1967 the Macau Government acceded to Chinesedemands that gave China veto power over administration

Member of: Multifiber Agreement

Diplomatic representation: as Chinese territory under Portugueseadministration, Macanese interests in the US are represented by Portugal;US--the US has no offices in Macau and US interests are monitoredby the US Consulate General in Hong Kong

Flag: the flag of Portugal is used

- EconomyOverview: The economy is based largely on tourism (includinggambling), and textile and fireworks manufacturing. Efforts to diversify havespawned other small industries--toys, artificial flowers, and electronics.The tourist sector has accounted for roughly 25% of GDP, and the clothingindustry has provided about two-thirds of export earnings. Macau depends onChina for most of its food, fresh water, and energy imports. Japan and Hong Kongare the main suppliers of raw materials and capital goods.